Ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier versus Zimbabwe, former Super Eagles’ midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju has stressed that the Nigerian national team must win all their remaining games in the qualification campaign.
Sports247 gathered that the Eagles enter the game at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo lying fourth on the Group C table with six points, but they could yet drop back to fifth if they lose to their visitors from Harare.
Failing to beat The Warriors on Tuesday would also mean Nigeria (with 6 points on the log) suffering a wide gap behind group leaders South Africa (10 points) and Benin Republic in second (8 points), while Rwanda lie third (7 points), despite their 2-0 loss to the Super Eagles last Friday.
With Lesotho also looking threatening in fifth spot with five points and seeking to shock Rwanda in Kigali on Tuesday, while Benin Republic could go top of the table if they beat visiting South Africa on the same evening in Abidjan, Adepoju could jolly well be giving the Eagles a priceless warning shot ahead of their game in The Nest of Champions.
He declared, “To get to the World Cup next year, we must win all our remaining matches. I believe that our players are capable, and I want to wish them all the best. They must not look back but continue going strong from start to finish. We are all wishing them the very best.”
Adepoju, who was fondly called ‘Headmaster’ during his playing days and first made top marks while starring for Real Madrid’s B-team in Spain, stated further that the Eagles must stay fully focused in order to pull through the tough terrain that lies ahead of them.
“All the matches are going to be very difficult. That is the situation and circumstances that we are in. We cannot afford to falter in any of the remaining matches.
They have to take every game seriously until the end,” stressed Adepoju, who also played for Real Sociedad of Spain and is currently a La Liga ambassador in Nigeria.
